The plans for the creation of a new department were announced last October. The organizational changes are of great importance for preparing the company for the transition of the automotive industry to electrification and software-defined vehicles. The department will focus on innovation, increasing profitability, and efficiency across all company divisions. The department will be led by Yvonne Bettkober, whose 20 years of experience in leadership roles include positions at parent companies Volkswagen, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services. "With Yvonne Bettkober, we are getting a manager who is as skilled as she is experienced," said Dellner in the release. "With her experience in the international tech and digital industry, she will bring valuable perspectives that we need right now in Audi’s transformation." Recently, Bettkober was responsible for global organizational development and transformation initiatives at Volkswagen’s parent company, including its software subsidiary CARIAD. Audi's business strategy, Audi Agenda, focuses on six key areas: organizational efficiency, expansion of the automaker’s electric vehicle portfolio, improved sales, customer service, operational profits, and advancing through cutting-edge technologies. Audi aims to streamline its corporate hierarchy and organizational structure, optimize its committees, and shift responsibility and decision-making to defined roles within the company, including new car development. "Current challenges require fast action and fast decision-making," said Bettkober in the release. Over 200 Audi experts prepared various improvement packages in support of these efforts, announced by the automaker last October. The work included analyzing internal processes and structures, as well as developing and optimizing new collaboration business models. According to Audi, these efforts will eventually provide direct access to all business-critical topics, offering more space for decision-making. "The last few months have shown that the automotive industry is facing serious challenges," said Dellner about the initiative announced last fall. "So, developing a car is just the first step. We must and will make Audi more efficient, more competitive, and more sustainable in the future." According to the release, the development guidelines created by Audi's newly established Transformation, Consulting, and Organization division will later be applied across all corporate divisions and become the basis for reorganizing other parts of the company. As part of its strategic growth plan, Audi Agenda, the automaker plans to offer a fully electric premium vehicle in all its major segments by 2027. These vehicles will be fully connected and equipped with advanced digital features aimed at passenger comfort.
